Following the team with a unique perspective on all things Phillies.Email me: PhilliesPhollowers@comcast.net – Peace, Love & Baseball – Jenn

Oswalt Loses at Citizens Bank Park for the First Time

It looks like #13 was unlucky for Roy Oswalt. In his 13th career start at Citizens Bank Park, Oswalt lost his first game in the ballpark thanks to a non-existent offense. It was a 2-0 shut-out by the Rangers.

Let me rephrase: The Phillies did have bats and some did swing them, but no runs ever crossed the plate. In the last nine games, the Phillies are averaging FIVE hits a game. Yes, five hits, not runs. They hit over 5 runs only twice in that spam.

Sunday was no different. Five hits, NO runs. This has been a bad case of déjà vu for the starting pitchers, who have been the victims of the invisible run support.

Today, there were a lot of pop-ups, swings at bad pitches, no swings at good pitches, confused looks and ball hit right at fielders:

The déjà vu continued as catcher Dane Sardinha got on base in both the 3rd and 5th innings. Both times, Oswalt bunted him to second. And both times, with one out and a runner in scoring position, Jimmy Rollins popped out.

Oswalt continued to pitch well, despite the disappointing offense. He went seven innings, allowing only one run. And the Phillies had some nice defensive plays as well, including a pair of double plays and some acrobatics by Wilson Valdez.

And then there was this play, where Rollins tagged out Elvis Andrus, but the umpire missed the tag. It did not matter anyway, as Oswalt got out of the inning.

The second Rangers run was charged to J.C. Romero. But again, it did not really matter as the Phillies batters were hitting anything.

The good news is that Chase Utley is back! Pete Orr was sent to the minors to make room and Utley will make his 2011 debut on Monday night against the Reds. The Phillies are counting on Utley to light a fire under this offense.

Joe Blanton was placed on the DL as expected and Vance Worley will replace him, pitching on Tuesday night.

The Phils also signed veteran outfielder Scott Podsednik to a minor-league deal as a back-up plan after the Blue Jays released him. Podsednik is a lifetime .279 hitter but he has had issues with plantar fasciitis in his foot, which is why the Jays let him go. If he can take time to heal, he could be useful later in the season.

The Reds game starts at 7:05pm tomorrow night. In the meantime, here is the full Photo Album from today’s massacre…I mean, game.

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